Disposable composite conductor tube for flashlight constructions

ABSTRACT

A conductor tube construction suitable for use in disposable flashlights, or the like, which, because of its simplicity is both extremely economical to produce and is therefore feasibly disposable.

United States Patent 1 Tanner et al.

[111 3,806,724 1 Apr. 23, 1974 1 DISPOSA BLE COMPOSITE CONDUCTOR TUBE FOR FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTIONS [76] Inventors: Terry F. Tanner, 323 Snell Isle Blvd. N.E., St. Petersburg, Fla. 33704; David E. Staub, 461 Palm Island NE, Clearwater, both of Fla. 33515 [22] Filed: July 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 162,852

[52] US. Cl. 240/10.66, 339/69 [51] Int. Cl. F211 7/00, l-l0lr 25/08 [58] Field of Search 240/1066, 10.6 R, 10.6,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,648,224 3/1972 McDonough 339/183 1,839,971 1/1932 Korsen 240/1066 2,153,336 4/1939 Officer et al.. 240/1066 3,221,293 11/1965 Regan 339/244 R 3,478,307 11/1969 Testo 339/244 R 3,368,184 2/1968 Braun 339/152 X Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant ExaminerDaniel M. Yasich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stein, 'Orman-and Fisher [5 7] ABSTRACT A conductor tube construction suitable for use in disposable flashlights, or the like, which, because of its simplicity is both extremely economical to produce and is therefore feasibly disposable.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RATEMTEUAPR 23 I974 FIG.I

INVENTORS. TERRY F. TANNER BY DAVID E.STAUB ATTORNEY.

' DISPOSABLE COMPOSITE CONDUCTOR TUBE FOR FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTIONS NATURE AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement in flashlight construction and consists primarily of a composite tube of substantially concentric inner and outer tube sections, one of which is made of suitable dielectric material and the other is preferably formed of a thin wall of an electric conductor, such as a metallic foil closely associated together and in which, as illustrated herein, one end portion of the conductor section is formed to overlie the adjacent end portion of the dielectric tube and both end portions are folded inwardly of the composite tube and to form a chamber for receiving and retaining a light bulb therein.

' This composite tube is adapted to receive within it one or more battery cells arranged in series. Its forward end supports a light bulb energizible by the battery cells through contact with the inturned portion of the conductor section.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a flashlight construction such as a pocket or pencil light.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial section of the same.

FIG. 3 is a broken longitudinal section through the composite tube, per se.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken at line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION The invention resides in a conductor tube for use, for instance, in flashlights of the pocket or pencil type and, more particularly, is a composite conductor tube of improved construction which, according to the form illustrated, consists of an inner tube or cylinder of dielectric material and an outer cylinder of a thin walled electric conducting material, such as metallic foil of good conducting quality. I

In the drawing which illustrates a form of the invention shown as applied in use, the composite conductor tube comprises an outer cylinder or layer of electrically conductive material 1 and an inner cylinder-of dielectric material 2 closely associated or adhered together throughout the length of the outer conductive sleeve or cylinder, forming together a receptacle for one or more battery cells 3 in series relation. The forward end portion of the composite tube is inturned upon itself to provide a chamber 4 at the forward end of less internal diameter than that of the major portion of the tube to receive and support a light bulb 5 within the composite tube, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The flashlight casing 6 comprises a cylinder formed at its rear end as at toprovide an annular inturned flanged 8 for supporting the disc 9 against which one end of the compression spring 10 isseated, the opposite end of the spring exerting its force of compression against the base or negative terminal of therear battery cell 3. The opposite or forward end of the casing. is rolled inwardly to provide an annular flange 11 against which a washer or apertured member 12 is engaged when the flashlight is fully assembled.

The flashlight bulb is retained in place in the restricted chamber by a shoulder 13 in engagement with the member 12 and a washer 14 behind the shoulder which annularly overlies the turned-in end wall 15 of the composite tube. The shank 16 of the bulb being of conductive material is in electrical contact with the turned-in end portion of the outer section 1 of the conductor tube, while its electrode 17 is in contact with the battery The outer casing 6 is provided with longitudinally aligned openings 19 and 20 accommodating a conductor clip having resilient portions 21 embracing the outer conductive surface of the battery 3 disposed in the rear end of the casing against the spring 10, and a resilient contact arm 22 which projects through the opening 19 and forwardly along the outside of the casing 6 to a point opposite the opening 20. The arm 22 is normally urged in spaced relation above the opening 20. It will be noted that the conductor tube section 1 underlies the opening 20 at its rear end portions and when the arm 22 is depressed toward the portion 23 of tube section 1 immediately opposite the opening 20 and brought into contact with portion 23 as shown in FIG. 2, an electrical circuit is completed through the batteries to thus activate the bulb 5.

Since the flashlight construction illustrated is extremely inexpensive to produce and is permanently self contained, thus precluding replacement of batteries or bulb, it is feasibly disposable. By virtue of the unique composite tube construction as applied to flashlight structures, permanent assembly in manufacture is a simple procedure.

We claim:

1. A disposable flashlight construction including, in combination, an outer open ended cylindrical casing, a composite cylinder in said casing, a source of battery power within the cylinder, a flashlight bulb disposed in one end of said casing, said composite cylinder having one terminal in direct electrical contact with one terminal of said power source, an apertured member adjacent said one end of said casing for receiving a terminal portion of the lightbulb, each end portion of said casing being turnedinwardly of said casing, said one end portion enclosing the bulb and apertured member providing an abutment on engagement with said one terminal of the bulb, and means in the opposite end portion of said casing disposed in abutting relation with the adjacent inwardly disposed other end portion of said casing for exerting a force of compression through the source of battery power and toward apertured member and 4 the bulb, said composite cylinder comprising an inner surface of dielectric material and an outer surface of electrically conductive material having a portion internally of said composite cylinder in conductive contact with said one terminal of the bulb, said composite cylinder at its inwardly turned forward end being further turned toward said opposite end of said casing and said electrically conductive material snugly overlying the adjacent dielectric surface of said composite cylinder forming a chamber of less internal diameter than that of said composite cylinder at said forward end, and an on-off switch carried through an aperture in said casing having contact with the other terminal of the power source, and having selective contact with said outer surface of the conductive surface of said composite tube through a second aperture in the casing.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said composite cylinder comprises a tube of electrically. conductive material and a tube of dielectric material telescopically and intimately assembled one within the other for substantially the full length of the composite cylinder.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 806-, 724 mmltzwt4914M.

Patent No.

It is certified that error appears in the above-ide'ntifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Columnv 1, line 59, delete "as at".

Signed anti sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

' McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer" USCOMM-DC 80376-P69 us GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 93 0 FORM PO-105O (IO-69) 

1. A disposable flashlight construction including, in combination, an outer open ended cylindrical casing, a composite cylinder in said casing, a source of battery power within the cylinder, a flashlight bulb disposed in one end of said casing, said composite cylinder having one terminal in direct electrical contact with one terminal of said power source, an apertured member adjacent said one end of said casing for receiving a terminal portion of the lightbulb, each end portion of said casing being turned inwardly of said casing, said one end portion enclosing the bulb and apertured member providing an abutment on engagement with said one terminal of the bulb, and means in the opposite end portion of said casing disposed in abutting relation with the adjacent inwardly disposed other end portion of said casing for exerting a force of compression through the source of battery power and toward apertured member and the bulb, said composite cylinder comprising an inner surface of dielectric material and an outer surface of electrically conductive material having a portion internally of said composite cylinder in conductive contact with said one terminal of the bulb, said composite cylinder at its inwardly turned forward end being further turned toward said opposite end of said casing and said electrically conductive material snugly overlying the adjacent dielectric surface of said composite cylinder forming a chamber of less internal diameter than that of said composite cylinder at said forward end, and an ''''on-off'''' switch carried through an aperture in said casing having contact with the other terminal of the power source, and having selective contact with said outer surface of the conductive surface of said composite tube through a second aperture in the casing.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said composite cylinder comprises a tube of electrically conductive material and a tube of dielectric material telescopically and intimately assembled one within the other for substantially the full length of the composite cylinder. 